THE SEARCH FOR a young boy reported missing in the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare yesterday has resumed this afternoon after adverse weather conditions hampered search efforts this morning.

The land, air and sea search was suspended last night due to the weather conditions.

The alarm was raised at around 2.00pm yesterday. It’s understood the boy became separated from his family who quickly began to search for him. When there was no sign of the child, they returned to the visitor centre and raised the alarm.

It’s believed that the family has been holidaying in Ireland from overseas.

The search had been due to resume this morning, but the adverse weather conditions meant it couldn’t. 

In a statement to The Journal this afternoon, a garda spokesperson confirmed: “The search operation for the young boy missing from the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare resumed this afternoon and is ongoing at present.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One programme, Head of Operations at the Irish Coast Guard Kevin Whitney said: “The Coast Guard is continuing to support garda operations to recover the body of a young boy who had fallen from the Cliffs of Moher.

“The Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia coordinated a search yesterday that was conducted by Doolin Coast Guard unit using boats, drones and clifftop searching, and also the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 to carry out a search on shore and at sea.” 

Whitney said the Coast Guard would continue searching from low water, just after 2pm, with conditions improving in the area. 

He said the Coast Guard will be supporting the guards with drones and clifftop searches, along with Rescue 115 which will continue searching at sea. 

“The future plans are to continue supporting the garda operation and facilitating their request for assets.”

Yesterday, gardaí were alerted while the Irish Coast Guard were also notified of the situation. Watch officers at the Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry promptly mounted a search operation.

The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard launched their Delta rigid inflatable boat (rib) while Gardaí responded to the area. Other members of the Doolin team also made their way by road to the cliff top where the boy was last scene.

The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, and the Aran Islands RNLI all-weather lifeboat were also requested to assist.

It’s understood that the helicopter crew spotted what’s believed to be a body in the water at the base of the cliff and directed the Coast Guard boat to the area. However, the area was inaccessible at the time with large waves breaking on the shoreline.

After the Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat arrived at the location, they launched their Y-class inflatable boat and along with the Coast Guard boat crew carried out a risk assessment but determined it was still too dangerous to attempt a recovery operation. The search was called off for the evening.

With reporting from Pat Flynn